Antiphospholipid syndrome physical examination

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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Feham Tariq, MD [2]

Physical Examination

Physical examination shows no pathognomonic physical findings of APS; however, abnormal features may be found on examination that are related to infarction or ischemia of the skin, viscera, or the central nervous system.

Appearance of the Patient

• Patients with APS usually appear normal.

Vital Signs

• Low-grade fever may be present.

• Weak/bounding pulse / pulsus alternans / paradoxical pulse / asymmetric pulse
• High/low blood pressure with normal pulse pressure / wide pulse pressure / narrow pulse pressure

Cutaneous manifestations

Skin examination of patients with APS is usually positive for:

• Livedo reticularis
• Purpura
• Superficial thrombophelibitis
• Leg ulcers
• Splinter hemorrhages
• Gangrene of the distal extremities
• Leg swelling

HEENT

Abnormal fundoscopic examination findings:

• Retinal artery occlusion findings
• Retinal vein thrombosis findings

Neck

• Neck examination of patients with APS is usually normal.

Lungs

Pulmonary examination of patients with APS may show the following findings:

• Tachypnea in case of pulmonary embolism.

Heart

• Cardiovascular examination of patients with [disease name] is usually normal.

OR

• Chest tenderness upon palpation
• PMI within 2 cm of the sternum (PMI) / Displaced point of maximal impulse (PMI) suggestive of ____
• Heave / thrill
• Friction rub
• S1
• S2
• S3
• S4
• Gallops
• A high/low grade early/late systolic murmur / diastolic murmur best heard at the base/apex/(specific valve region) may be heard using the bell/diaphgram of the otoscope

Abdomen

Abdominal examination of patients with [disease name] is usually normal.

OR

• Abdominal distention
• Abdominal tenderness in the right/left upper/lower abdominal quadrant
• Rebound tenderness (positive Blumberg sign)
• A palpable abdominal mass in the right/left upper/lower abdominal quadrant
• Guarding may be present
• Hepatomegaly / splenomegaly / hepatosplenomegaly
• Additional findings, such as obturator test, psoas test, McBurney point test, Murphy test

Back

• Back examination of patients with [disease name] is usually normal.

OR

• Point tenderness over __ vertebrae (e.g. L3-L4)
• Sacral edema
• Costovertebral angle tenderness bilaterally/unilaterally
• Buffalo hump

Genitourinary

• Genitourinary examination of patients with [disease name] is usually normal.

OR

• A pelvic/adnexal mass may be palpated
• Inflamed mucosa
• Clear/(color), foul-smelling/odorless penile/vaginal discharge

Neuromuscular

• Neuromuscular examination of patients with [disease name] is usually normal.

OR

• Patient is usually oriented to persons, place, and time
• Altered mental status
• Glasgow coma scale is ___ / 15
• Clonus may be present
• Hyperreflexia / hyporeflexia / areflexia
• Positive (abnormal) Babinski / plantar reflex unilaterally/bilaterally
• Muscle rigidity
• Proximal/distal muscle weakness unilaterally/bilaterally
• ____ (finding) suggestive of cranial nerve ___ (roman numerical) deficit (e.g. Dilated pupils suggestive of CN III deficit)
• Unilateral/bilateral upper/lower extremity weakness
• Unilateral/bilateral sensory loss in the upper/lower extremity
• Positive straight leg raise test
• Abnormal gait (describe gait: e.g. ataxic (cerebellar) gait / steppage gait / waddling gait / choeiform gait / Parkinsonian gait / sensory gait)
• Positive/negative Trendelenburg sign
• Unilateral/bilateral tremor (describe tremor, e.g. at rest, pill-rolling)
• Normal finger-to-nose test / Dysmetria
• Absent/present dysdiadochokinesia (palm tapping test)